Trestle



D. GRIFFITHS Oct. 24, 1939.

TRESTLE f M a Filed Nov. 28, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to trestles and has as one of the primary objects thereof the provision of a trestle so constructed and arranged whereby the legs may be collapsed to positions adjacent the underside of the body of the trestle to facilitate transporting of said trestle and to enable the latter to be conveniently stored.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, eflicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a side elevationof my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end thereof, illustrating the legs in folded or collapsed position.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of one of the locking plates.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of said locking plate. Figure 7 is a side elevation of the locking plate. In practicing my invention I provide a trestle provided with an elongated body 5 having secured to the outer faces thereof and adjacent each end section, locking plates 6 by means of screws 'l.

The locking platesare fashioned with vertically disposed slots 8 in the outer faces thereof and in which are seated the upper angled ends of pairs of legs 9 and secured therein by means of bolts l0 extending through said plates and body, said bolts being, provided with suitable nuts. The legs are disposed in pairs adjacent the end sections of the body and the lower ends of each pair of the legs have pivoted thereto the outer ends of a pair of pivoted links I I. two in. number and each pair connects the legs of each pair together. The legs adjacent their lower ends are fashioned with bolt apertures l2 adapted for registry with similar apertures l3 formed transversely inthe body and for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The lower ends of said legs are also fashioned with apertures 14 adapted to receive therethrough nails, screws or the like whereby to secure the legs in fixed position on a floor or the like.

When the links H of each pair are in extended a The pairs of links are of the respective pairs of legs in an extended position whereby to seat the upper ends of the legs within the slots 8 of the plate 6 and in appressed relation with the latter. The outer faces of the plates adjacent the lower ends of the slots 8 taper inwardly towards the slots as at 8a to permit the upper ends of the legs to pivot out of said slots to effect folding of the legs as hereinafter described.

When the upper ends of the legs are thus seated within the slots 8, the nuts on the respective bolts H] are tightened against the legs and serve to maintain the latter locked to said plates and in fixed subjacently extending position relative to the body. I

When it is desired to collapse or fold the legs relative to the body for transportation or storage purposes, the nuts on the respective bolts ID are loosened and the respective pairs of links H are operated to folded position to dispose the lower ends of the respective pairs of legs in closer relationship and thus permit the upper ends of said legs to be disposed without the slots 8 of the plates 6. When the parts are thus positioned, the lower ends of the legs are pivoted upwardly on the bolts I 0 and embrace the sides of the body and are secured thereto by bolts l5 extending through said apertures I2 and 13 as illustrated in Figure 3. When the legs are thus disposed, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the pivoted links, due to their resiliency, engage the under face of the body and serve to tension the legs relative to the body to preclude loose engagement therewith and thereby eliminate noise due to rattling and the like.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and efiicient trestle whereby the legs thereof may be readily folded against the body to enable the trestle to be readily transported or conveniently stored.

What I claim is:

1. In a trestle construction, a body having end sections, pairs of plates secured to said sections and each plate fashioned with a slot with the walls defining said slot having lower ends tapering inwardly, pairs of legs pivoted to said plates and having angularly disposed upper ends appressingly engaging the latter within said slots and coacting with the walls of said slots to position said legs in extended position relative to said body, means connecting said ends of said legs to said plates for clamping said legs in said extended position and within said slots, said means operable to permit camming of said upper ends of said legs out of said slots whereby to facilitate positioning of said legs in folded position relative to said body.

2. In a trestle construction, a body having end sections, pairs of plates secured to said sections and each plate fashioned with a slot with the walls defining said slot having lower ends tapering inwardly, pairs of legs pivoted to said plates and having angularly disposed upper ends appressingly engaging the latter within said slots and coacting with the Walls of said slots to position said legs in extended position relative to said body, means connecting said ends of said legs to said plates for clamping said legs in said extended position and within'said slots, said means operable to permit camming of said upper ends of said legs out of said slots whereby to facilitate positioning of said legs in folded position relative to said body, and means extendable through said body for maintaining said legs in said folded position.

DANIEL GRIFFITHS. 

